How to use AutoCorrect in Excel

What is AutoCorrect in Excel?

Autocorrect is a handy feature in Excel that automatically corrects common spelling errors and can also be customized to substitute specific text strings as you type. As name suggests, it main purpose is to change the typing errors with a correct word meaning as specified by you.

It has many additional capabilities with which it can be used to:

• Correct typo errors,
• Capitalization errors,
• Convert abbreviations to full text,
• Add check marks,
• Symbols,
• Etc.

In this tutorial, you will learn the different options available for use in the AutoCorrect feature.

Select Only the Required AutoCorrect Options in Excel

AutoCorrect is the default enabled feature in Excel with all the available options.

Still, you can choose and disable one or more options that you do not want to use as a part of the AutoCorrect feature, and for this, you need to do the following steps:

1. First, go to the “File” tab in the ribbon and then click on “Options” and you will get the “Excel Options” dialog box opened.
   
2. After that, click on “Proofing” from the left side panel and then click on “AutoCorrect Options”.
   
3. At this point, you will get the “AutoCorrect” dialog box opened with all the default options already selected.
4. Under the “AutoCorrect” tab, unselect the option you do not want to use as a part of the AutoCorrect feature, and then click OK. The AutoCorrect feature will get enabled by excluding that option.
   

AutoCorrect Tab Options

There are many options available in AutoCorrect, which are by default selected to be used with the AutoCorrect feature.

Here we have explained the definitions of that options for you to understand them.

1. Correct two initial capitals: This option, when enabled, auto-corrects the first two initial capital letters of the words. For example, if you write “MEssage”, it will auto-correct it as Message. But, If you deselect this option, AutoCorrect will not correct the first two capital initial letters.
2. Capitalize the first letter of sentences: This option, when enabled, auto capitalizes the first letter of every new sentence. For example, if you write “How are you guys. we are doing well”, it will auto-capitalize the letter “w” of we and make the sentence “How are you guys. We are doing well.
3. Capitalize names of days: As the name suggests, this option, when enabled, auto-capitalizes the name of days you enter in Excel. For example, if you write “Sunday”, it will capitalize the letter “s” and make it “Sunday”.
4. Correct accidental use of caps lock key: This option, when enabled, auto-corrects the accidentally written words using caps lock. For example, if you write “Sunday”, it auto-corrects this word to “Sunday”.
5. Replace text as you type: This option is used to replace some shortcodes, text, or abbreviations into full text, replace some texts with symbols, and replace some misspelled words with the correct ones. Autocorrect already has the predefined list of text and words, which, when we enter them in the spreadsheet, will get auto-replaced with the pre-defined results. You can remove some pre-defined words from the list and can expand the list by adding more to that list.

AutoCorrect Exceptions

The AutoCorrect feature also has the option to set some exceptions.

You will find the predefined list under exceptions which you can expand by adding more exceptions or delete by removing any not required exceptions from the list.

1. Under the AutoCorrect tab, click on the “Exceptions” button.
   
2. Once you click on the “Exceptions” button, you will get the “AutoCorrect Exceptions” dialog box opened.
3. Under the “First letter” tab, you will find the pre-defined list of exceptions as per which, after the dot (.)/period of specific letters or words, AutoCorrect will not make the first letter capital. This list you can expand or delete this based on your requirements.
   
4. Under the “Initial caps” tab, you can add the list of words where you don’t want AutoCorrect to check the first two capital letters of the words as it does when you select the “Capital two initial letters” options in AutoCorrect options, as mentioned above.
   

As you can see in the above screen capture, we have added “EXcelchamps” and IDs” within the list, which means from now onward, whenever we enter those two words in the spreadsheet, AutoCorrect will not change the second letter of the word into caps off as we have defined the exception for those two words.

AutoFormat as You Type Tab Options

Autoformat tab consists of three by default selected auto-formatting options that are very helpful while working in excel, which is explained below:

1. Internet and network path with hyperlinks:  You have always seen when you enter any hyperlink or web address in the spreadsheet, it gets converted as a hyperlink by clicking on which one can redirect to that link address. That all happens due to this option. If you do not want to convert those links to hyperlinks, un-select this option.
2. New rows and columns in the table: You have always seen when you enter any value in the adjacent column or row of the excel table, the table will get expanded up to that row or column by including them in the table. All that happens due to this option. If you disable it, the excel table will not get auto-expanded anymore.
3. Fill formulas in the table: This option auto copy your entered formula to all the down cells in the same column within the excel table by adjusting the cell references of the formula.

Actions Tab

The action tab can create additional actions based on specific words, text, or values.

By default, you will find the additional actions disabled, and to enable it, select the “Enable additional actions in right-click menu” option.

Excel only has Date (XML) as pre-defined additional action in the list, but you can create more per your need.

Once you enable this option, the date action will get enabled as it is pre-defined by Excel, which means after this, when you enter the date in the cell.

If you right-click on it, Excel will show you the outlook calendar options by clicking on which you will get routed to your calendar.

Outlook must be configured with the email id to pop up this additional calendar option.

Math AutoCorrect Tab

The math AutoCorrect tab is used to insert the mathematical symbols within the equations.

This Math AutoCorrect function does not work in the cell. It works only in equations (Insert tab à symbols à equations)

Disable AutoCorrect Feature

Excel does not have any option to disable the AutoCorrect feature directly. To stop the AutoCorrect feature completely, users must un-select all the “AutoCorrect” options and other tab options.

• Open Excel Options: In the drop-down menu, click on ‘Options’. This will open the Excel Options dialog box.
• Navigate to Proofing: In the Excel Options dialog box, find and click on ‘Proofing’ in the left-hand menu.
• Open AutoCorrect Options: In the ‘Proofing’ tab, look for the ‘AutoCorrect Options’ button and click on it. This will open the AutoCorrect dialog box.
• Disable AutoCorrect: In the AutoCorrect dialog box, you will see a list of options with checkboxes next to them. To disable AutoCorrect, uncheck the box that says ‘Replace text as you type’.
• Save Your Changes: Click ‘OK’ to save your changes. This will close the AutoCorrect dialog box and take you back to your spreadsheet.

Points to Consider

While using the AutoCorrect feature in Excel, here are some points to consider:

• Unexpected Corrections: AutoCorrect can sometimes change text you didn’t intend to correct. It’s important to review any changes made by AutoCorrect to ensure they’re accurate.
• Use of Symbols: AutoCorrect also replaces certain symbol combinations with special characters. You may want to modify or turn off these corrections if you frequently use these symbol combinations in your work.
• Handling Misspelled Words: AutoCorrect can automatically correct misspelled words. However, it might not always choose the correct spelling you intended. Always double-check to ensure the appropriate correction has been made.